Improvement in hubs for vehicle-wheels



W. F. MORTON.

Hubs for Vehicle-Wheels.

No. 134.155. Patented Dec. 24, 1872.

Inventor. y 224%-, g, @mma/i Q, 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. MORTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN HUBS FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MORTON, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage- Wheels; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the central portion of a wheel, showing the means employed for strengthening the hub and inner ends of the spokes Figs. 2 and 3 are a central cross-section and a central longitudinal section, respectively, of said hub; and Fig. at is a perspective view of the metal strengthening-band.

' Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

When constructed entirely of wood, it is necessary that the wheel-hub should have a considerable diameter, in order that it may withstand the strain produced by driving in the spokes," while said spokes require so much width at their point of union with said hub to enable them to withstand the sidewise strain thrown upon the wheel as to destroy all symmetry and lightness of appearance of said wheel. In view of these difliculties many metallic hubs have been constructed, and various styles of bands have been applied to wooden hubs, all having for their object the production of a stronger and lighter-appearing Wheel but thus far none of these inventions have been free from serious objections, chief among which was a material increase of the weight and cost of the wheel.

To obviate these objections and produce a vwheel that, while comparatively slight in ap pearance, shall weigh no more than those of usual construction, and yet possess much greater strength, is the object of my invention, which consists in combining with a wooden hub an encircling metal band, constructed substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. In the annexed drawing, A represents a wooden hub of ordinary construction, but considerably less in diameter than usual, having secured upon and around its central portion a metal band, B, provided with suitable rectan gular openings 1), corresponding in' position N0. 134,155; dated December 24, 1872 antcdated December with the spoke-mortises a within said hub, but having a size somewhat greater than said mortises, so as to enable them to receive and contain the shoulders of the spokes C immediately above their tenons. A lip, b, projecting outward from and in a line with either end of each opening I), completes the band, which is made slightly tapering interiorly, and pressed upon the hub, the exterior of which is correspondingly tapered. The mortises within the hub are preferably made after the band is in place; but, if desired, may be out before the same is pressed upon said hub.

WVhen thus constructed and applied, the spokes are driven home in the usual manner, care being taken to have their shoulders tightly fitted to or within the openings in the band, which band performs the double office of strengthening the hub radially, so as topermit the tenons of said spokes to be more tight 1y fitted therein, and, in addition thereto, embraces said spokes so firmly at their shoulders as to render it impossible that they should split outward from the same, as is commonly the case. The lips projecting outward beside and supporting the edges of each spoke strengthen the same so much as to enable its width to be reduced one-third, and yet insure to it a sufficient rigidity to enable it to withstand any ordinary strain or shock, by which means the wheel has a lighter and more elegant appearance than if its spokes had the usual width. Another advantage obtained by the use of the band is that the diameter of the hub may be materially reduced, so as to give increased length, and consequently elasticity to the spokes, and thereby increase the elasticity and durability of the wheel.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s The band B, formed of or from one piece, and provided with the openings b and lips b, in combination with the hub A and spokes O, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of February, 1871.

- WM. 13. MORTON. Witnesses:

H. ALBERT HOOKER, JAMES H. CONKLIN. 

